The Story of Ming Lan Episode 44 Recap
> The Story of Ming Lan Recap
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Gu Tingye asked Sheng Minglan if she truly didn't care when Xiao Qinshi tried to send Hongxiao over that day, or if she wanted to appear virtuous and graceful. Sheng Minglan simply said that he would rather disregard the official's wish for their family to be reunited and move out to live elsewhere, and he also sent Hongxiao away, which was different for her. She was grateful to Gu Tingye; he was different from He Hongwen.
Gu Tingye and Sheng Minglan then started arranging their move. Only then did Xiao Qinshi realize that Sheng Minglan was no pushover. She had people find some old nannies to send to Sheng Minglan, just waiting for the Fourth and Fifth Branches to make trouble, and she just watched the show. After moving into the new residence, Sheng Minglan was so tired she collapsed onto the bed.
Gu Tingye quickly massaged her muscles, saying he would take her out to eat something delicious. Sheng Minglan was so sleepy she couldn't open her eyes and naturally didn't want to go. Gu Tingye quickly took out the account books. Sheng Minglan immediately cried out that her head hurt, but Gu Tingye insisted on explaining things to her. Most of the servants in the household were bestowed by the official.
He told Sheng Minglan to see if they were usable; if not, they should be sold off. But she had to be careful with the few people sent by the Gu family. Sheng Minglan instantly sobered up. No one had told her this when she left her former residence; it seemed they wanted to present a fait accompli.
Sheng Minglan knew those people sent by the Gu family were difficult to dismiss, but at the moment, she was extremely sleepy and couldn't even bother to eat. Seeing there was nothing he could do, Gu Tingye could only lie down beside her. Frightened, Sheng Minglan immediately sat up and wanted to eat fish.
Gu Tingye said that Sheng Minglan wouldn't have to get up early anymore, yet Sheng Minglan was still pulled up by Cui Mama, who said that her Fifth Aunt and her daughter-in-law had arrived, each of them looking arrogant, as if they had come to demand explanations. Sheng Minglan could tell she was not easy to deal with, but she hadn't expected them to come so quickly. Since they had come, she would meet them properly.
Among the servants sent by the Gu Residence, Diao Mama and Lai Mama were sent by Xiao Qinshi. As soon as Diao Mama arrived, she put on a mistress's air, even saying she wanted to give Sheng Minglan a lecture, and casually assigned tasks to the servants. Sheng Minglan asserted her authority as the mistress, refuting her words and ordering those people to introduce themselves one by one.
The first person Sheng Minglan singled out was Lai Mama's daughter, named Mingyue. Because her name clashed with Sheng Minglan's name, she was immediately renamed Chunyue. Sheng Minglan meticulously inquired about her past actions, any rewards she had received, and any punishments she had suffered, one by one, and made her press her handprint. But Lai Mama again interrupted and contradicted Sheng Minglan's words.
Sheng Minglan was full of aura, sharp-tongued and eloquent, and with just a few words, she subdued these servants. Even Fifth Aunt couldn't find anything to say to make things difficult, and Lai Mama dared not disobey. After leaving Chengyuan, Fifth Aunt was incredibly angry; she was deeply astonished by Sheng Minglan's knowledge and eloquence.
Sheng Minglan's remark, "manage what should be managed, and don't meddle in what shouldn't be managed," seemed to be directed at Lai Mama, but in reality, she was rushing her away. Sheng Minglan then proceeded to handle the people sent by the Gu family, instantly establishing her authority, and no one dared to look down on her. Danju happened to see Chunyue loitering near Gu Tingye's study with snacks, so she naturally went up and scolded her thoroughly.
That Chunyue still thought of going to serve Sheng Minglan, but Danju also scolded her away. At night, Sheng Minglan was busy looking through the resumes of those people. These people were all Xiao Qinshi's informants, which truly exhausted her. Gu Tingye teased her in every way beside her, but failed to distract Sheng Minglan.
Xiao Qinshi was employing a two-pronged approach: on one hand, she sent nannies to gather information, and on the other hand, she sent some beautiful women to seduce Gu Tingye. Gu Tingye made a few teasing remarks upon hearing this. Sheng Minglan, however, was not jealous; anyway, he was going to take concubines. Seeing that Gu Tingye was displeased, Sheng Minglan put on an act again. The two of them playfully bickered, and it was a joyful sight.
The servants were moving box after box of things. Lai Mama happened to overhear that these were all gifts outsiders had sent to Gu Tingye. Sheng Minglan finished assigning all the servants' tasks, and all important positions were filled by trustworthy people. When Gu Tingye went out, he happened to see a sedan chair from the Hou Residence heading towards Chengyuan. He then told Shitoul to go and guard the inner courtyard.
He himself first postponed his military duties and waited in the outer courtyard, fearing Sheng Minglan wouldn't be able to handle the reception. Xiao Qinshi immediately asked Sheng Minglan why she hadn't assigned tasks to Lai Mama and Diao Mama. Sheng Minglan dismissed her with a few words. Xiao Qinshi then proceeded to lecture her that she shouldn't accept gifts privately, asking, "Wouldn't that tarnish the Gu family's reputation?" Sheng Minglan hastily apologized.
This was what Gu Tingye had said: not accepting any at all, or selectively accepting them, would offend people. It would be better to accept all of them but not open the boxes, and then inform the official later. Upon hearing this, Xiao Qinshi quickly forced a smile and joked with Sheng Minglan. Gu Tingye learned that Xiao Qinshi hadn't caused a scene and chuckled foolishly.
Just as Shitoul had complained, he looked exactly like a hen protecting its chicks just now. Lai Mama went around inquiring in Sheng Minglan's courtyard and also gathered a group of nannies to gamble. Everyone said she was straightforward and easygoing, so close they were almost wearing the same pants. When Xiaotao passed by in the garden, she heard Lai Mama and her group saying that Sheng Minglan was very jealous.
She was so angry that she went up and gave them a thorough scolding. Those unruly nannies were very disdainful and didn't pay any attention to Sheng Minglan at all. Sheng Hualan spoke to Sheng Minglan about the outside rumors. A few days ago, she, Sheng Rulan, and Wang Ruofu attended a banquet where people discussed how Sheng Minglan disrespected elders and was unfilial.
They said that Xiao Qinshi had a difficult time as a widow and was good-tempered, and cursed Sheng Minglan for mistreating servants. As soon as Wang Ruofu and Sheng Rulan heard this, they were so angry that they left without eating. Sheng Minglan was also filled with anger. These were all rumors spread by Xiao Qinshi, all speaking ill of her. But since she had married into the family, she might as well continue with a smile.
Sheng Minglan gave the lucrative position of kitchen procurement to Lai Mama, and several nannies immediately became smug. Gu Tingye returned to the residence, drenched in rain, complaining that Sheng Minglan didn't send an umbrella for him. Sheng Minglan quickly went up to coax him.
